The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security (MoHAISS) has concluded a five-day outreach program in which residents in the Zambezi Region have been applying for duplicate identity cards.

The exercise targeted inhabitants along the Chobe and surrounding areas of Nakabolelwa, Ngoma, Ioma, Mutikitila, and Ibbu to allow them a chance to apply for new ID duplicates free of charge.

President Hage Geingob says Namibia has attracted foreign direct investment worth N$13.2 billion, or 7.2% of its gross domestic product, during the first nine months of 2022.
 
Dr. Geingob revealed this when he delivered the State of the Nation Address today (Thursday).

He says FDI attractions have been the highest year-on-year growth Namibia has witnessed since 2015, primarily driven by equity injections for exploration activities following the offshore oil discoveries.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security (MoHAISS) has dismissed information circulating on social media alleging favoritism in the issuance of Namibian citizenship and permits to foreign nationals who purchased residential property in the "Presidents Links Estate" at Walvis Bay.

In a statement, the Home Affairs Ministry says it welcomes investment into the country and issues qualified foreign investors with relevant permits in line with laws and procedures.

Some of those who fled Angola's protracted civil war and have been living in Namibia for more than twenty years still remain without national documents.

This group of people, mostly the Ovazemba communities found in the Kunene Region, were displaced by the civil war in that country and remain stateless in Namibia.

Historians have found that they are among the San, including other sub-tribes of the Ovaherero, who were the original inhabitants of Namibia.

The public can now apply for passports and short-term employment permits (work visas) online.

The service will be available on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security's website at https://eservices.mhaiss.gov.na.

The service was launched under the theme "Moving to a Digital World."

The Executive Director in the Ministry, Etienne Maritz, noted that their clients lose valuable time by spending time in long queues trying to apply for these documents. Hence, this will improve service delivery in the ministry.

President Hage Geingob has urged the staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security to be vigilant against the forging and corrupt issuance of national documents.

Dr. Geingob made the call when he inaugurated the new headquarters of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security in Windhoek.

The new headquarters, located along the Hosea Kutako Drive, has been named after former President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

The Angolan Consulate in Rundu is issuing consulate identification cards to its nationals who have been stateless in Namibia.

Kavango West's Ncamagoro Constituency Councillor, Thomas Rengi, initiated the process after realising the number of stateless persons was overwhelming.

A large number of Angolan nationals turned up for the one-week registration at the constituency office.

Those issued with the consulate cards are expected to apply for Angolan birth certificates and national identity cards for that country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security is advising mothers who have not registered the birth of their children to do so, even in the absence of the fathers.

According to Sakeus Kadhikwa, the ministry's Public Relations Officer, mothers who fail to register their babies in their surnames risk their children becoming stateless.

In some cultures in Namibia, babies are registered under their father's surname. But for this to happen, the father needs to give consent, but sometimes he is nowhere to be found.

Police officers posted at Olupale in the Okongo Constituency will see their living conditions improved in the near future.

After a recent visit to the police station, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Dr Daniel Kashikola says plans are to set up proper infrastructure there.

The Olupale Police Station was set up in 2008 and currently has 14 staff members accommodated in tents.

Dr Kashikola says plans to build barracks, a charge office, a kitchen and a dining hall are all on the cards.